Get Real! You can diminish the “weightiness” of your choices, find agreement, and STILL DIE PREMATURELY!
This is supposed to be healthy? The book Fat!SO? is simply revisionist propaganda!
I will not identify the person in the picture. I picked it off the Internet as a picture of a woman who is obese and, at the same time, doing a lot to maintain an agreeable presentation.
There is a “Fat Pride” Community. The author of the book “FAT!SO?” is a champion for the growing population of obese and overweight Americans. With the cost of health care being the focus of the attention of our nation, there is the view that extra weight leads to chronic conditions and, therefore, increases the cost of health care for all of us.
I recently wrote an essay here that presented the cost of treating obesity related illness is more than the cost of treating cancer. Think about it!
Everything runs on agreement and there are so many obese Americans now that, banded together, make up a huge MAJORITY of Americans. 66% of all Americans are overweight or obese. In Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia 30 out of 100 are obese. That is a hell of a lot of agreement for the specious argument that “fat people can eat healthy food and add movement to their lives and be healthy. Healthy should be the goal, not thin.”
That is what Peggy Howell, the director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, said. I’ll give you that, Peggy Girl, but I want to see the drug list of the average 50 year old in your group.
Linda Bacon, author of “Health at any size” said, “Public health care policy is harmful. We give a direct and clear message that there’s something wrong with being fat.”
There are many web pages about the author of FAT!SO? I could not find what she weighs. She does say that she is, “Fat and uninsurable.”
I think that pharmacists have something to do here. I have said before that we are at the bottom of the funnel in health care. What doctors ignore or give perfunctory counsel on ends up in your lap. You see it with prescriptions every day. The patient will give you a look and say, “What are these prescriptions for?”
Now, there are organizations promoting that obesity is okay, good and healthy.
Geezuz, gimme a break. For every John Belushi, who could do back flips as well as a Russian gymnast, there are 100 obese folk getting geared up for an early funeral in an over-sized coffin.
I am all for the obese and fat eating healthy food and adding movement. But then they would be run out of the club “FAT IS FINE-LOOKING”. They would lose weight.
We, all health professionals, have a huge job to do. If we do not watch it, the new national health care program to come will really bankrupt us. Not because of you and me and our tennis-playing parents. Not because of our vegetarian 18 year old who is a soccer player at her college. It will be because 66% of Americans are either overweight or obese. They will be covered and they will suck off enormous resources just because they now have agreement that “Fat is somehow charming in the 21st Century”.
I am telling you as clearly as I can that they “get no soup from me.” I will not AGREE that FAT can be healthy. Period!
I defy any obese person to bend over and tie their shoes and tell me that they did NOT have to hold their breath. Six weeks ago, JAY PEE was 10 pounds heavier and I got short of breath bending over and tying my shoes.
For balance. Jim Fixx, a Mensa member, was dumb. He did not see any doctor regularly. No physicals. He ran ten miles a day. He wrote “The Complete Book of Running.” His father died in 1984 of a heart attack in his 40s. Jim Fixx died of a heart attack after a run one day. He was 52 years old. He was not fat.
You must have something to say. Can pharmacy play a significant role in helping to alleviate this epidemic? What about the “drive-through”.
I love our young friend’s suggestion that a significant percentage of food stamps can only be used for fruits and vegetables.
Talk to me!
PS: The woman in the picture is a prominent advocate of the idea that “Fat can be healthy”. I know her name and what she wrote and where she has presented her arguments. But, I am a smart rat. Only the shadow shall be told.
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Obesity is a lifestyle and work problem. When I was kid, 95% of the population farmed. The intense labor required of farm work produced a much leaner population. For most of man’s history, he has had to exert a lot of energy during the day. And, most people did not have an abundance of food. Today, most people don’t utilize a lot of energy during the day and they are exposed to an abundance of food. We all know what the change of lifestyle and the exposure to American food did to the American Indian.
We, as a population, are facing an enormous problem. The repercusions of obesity and the retirement of the baby boomers is going to put an enormous strain on our healthcare system.
I must say that I don’t see any solutions being offered for this problem. In fact, there is little effort toward tacking the problem of obesity. And, I must say that I don’t have a solution. Education would appear to be the most viable option. As JP says, we don’t need organizations promoting obesity or trying to create an “acceptance” of obesity. Obesity is not normal and it should be labeled as being not normal.
The suggestion that food stamps be used only for fruits and vegetables is a good idea. It is our tax money that is going toward making people obese, and then it is our tax money that is treating all the health related problems they have from obesity. So, our money is being wasted in two ways: giving them food stamps and treating there illnesses, which are a result of the food stamps we gave them. We must look for alternatives in our search for dealing with obesity and healthcare. We are going to have to think outside the box. And, we have to realize that it is an economic problem too.
Pharmacists are at the forefront of understanding the healthcare problems this country faces. We see the enormous waste of money on drugs. We see the coming crisis in healthcare caused by obesity. We see the oncoming assult on pharmacies by more and more rx’s as the baby boomers retire.
The next question is: what can we do?
Ah, Peon, you and I are too over the hill. We have made our bones. Me, I’m too tired of it and too busy to do anything but stir the pot. What about a major pharmacy organization making a stand? The APhA? Forgive me if I die of laughter, contorted on the ground, my stoamch knotted in pain as I survive spasms of hilarity. Peon, let’s see what these kids are made of. Let’s see if pharmacy is “The Prescription Mill” in the 21st Century or if there is a “Profession” left. It is up to the “kids”. Let’s say 45 and younger. Those with 20+ years left. I’ll damn them to the job of “Eternal Technician” if they can’t, at least, give it some time, effort and money. You know, my friend, that we had a chance with The Pharmacy Alliance, but, it seems that those who joined are dreamers like you and me. The rest? The ones who cheered us on, but did not join, can KISS MY ASS as they stare at the counter all day, their legs shot, their stomachs filled with Doritos and Doctor Pepper, their bladders stretched, their non-pharmacist store manager running his fingers through her hair. Again, they can kiss YOUR ass and Cindy’s ass and Mayreau’s ass.. That felt good, Peon. That felt good. Paul’s ass too.
How about lobbying the housewares industry to make smaller plates? How about restaurants being required to serve less than gigantic proportions? The simple answer is that it cannot be a matter of public policy because people don’t like being told what they can or cannot put in their mouths. It has to be a personal choice, and you’re right, JP…peer pressure does a lot.
Happy, My Darling, “I am Lovin’ It”. Peer pressure. I will put money on it that peer pressure will do the
job, but, as long as there are fat people (or skinny) promoting the ideas that “Obese is beautiful”, “Fat is healthy” it will be a battle. This is not very nice and Jay Pee is a very nice man, usually. This is old-fashioned tough love. I do not have to perpetuate the nonsense. I do not have to agree with the diabetic obese 29 year old that walking up three flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator justifies his voracious appetite and slovenly habits. Plus, he looks like shit and hasn’t been laid since prom night in 1997. That felt good too, Peon. Thanks for the segue, Happy Pharm Girl.
Jim, you are right. And yet, when it comes right down to it, fatness is tough to beat. The reward for eating juicy, salty, fatty foods is that they are yummy. The reward for drinking calorie intensive alcoholic drinks is that they make you feel good. Exercise is hard, and makes you sweaty.
I have told several folks, who had rather sincere questions about why they should loose weight, about some of the people I have worked with over the years. They were each 50 to 150 lbs overweight. It was not tying shoes, it was not shortness of breath, it was not uncomfortable airplane seats that they were affected by on a daily basis. It was sore knees that the fat coworkers complained about. Groans when standing up, standing around, or walking for a while was what I heard. In addition, their ability to exercise was reduced because the could not pedal a bike or use a treadmill to burn calories.
I hope to convince someone that a lifestyle affected by sore knees is more serious than they imagine. And also more real than an eventual heart attack, diabetes, or cancer.
I love food. I like snacks. I know that they are not good for me, and that I have a bit of a belly due to them. My solution is to walk every day. I go to the gym 4 or 5 times a week. I also seek out manual jobs to do. Right now I need to replace the sewer line in my Houston home, because it is 60 years old and failing. I could hire some Spainish speaking fellows to do this job, but I am going to dig the 50 foot trench myself. When I am done, I expect my whole body to be sore. But also a little lighter and more muscular. If only I could convince myself that the 10 tonnes of dirt equals 10 bags of Hot-n-Spicy Cheetos. Eat less and I would not have to work so hard.
Good luck turning America away from the all-you-can-eat buffet. Thanks for trying.
Matt, V and I are about to take a hosing on the renovation of an “IKE” damaged house down here in Galveston. Main reason.. We hired white guys to work for us. Bad move. We were cheated by their price, the time it took and poor quality. One plumber just plain robbed us. The electrician was the bright spot. He is Hispanic. Every single member of his crew spoke Spanish only. The work was done on time and of the highest quality. So,
back to FAT. I like your view, Matt. I cannot believe the difference just ten pounds does. My hips don’t hurt after 8 hours at work. Six weeks ago, 660mg of Naproxen Na 220mg before work and hs. Perhaps we can somehow convince overweight people that they will FEEL better. Maybe, we can show them how the SEX can be better.. and…. they’ll GET MORE SEX. Hmmmm?
A fat/obese person who eats healthy and exersizes will be healthier than if they did not, even if the amount of weight they loose is small. In addition a 5-10% weightloss has disproportionate health benefits, even if the lower weight is still overweight or obese.
My younger sister is clinically obese, and also plays rugby, does kick boxing, and is a whole-food-eating vegetarian. She is certainly much fitter and healthier than average for her size. This doesn’t, of course, mean that she would not be healthier if she were to loose weight.
Obesity is an emotional issue, as well as a physical one. Attacking people for their weight is going to damage their confidence and self esteem, and will probrably reinforce whatever emotional issues they have, making them less likely to loose weight. Starting from the point of reinforcing healthy eating and exercise, rather than ‘fat is ugly’ is probrably more helpful.
Erra, positive reinforcement works until the reinforcee is working you. In 1964, the pyschiatrist Eric Berne published “Games People Play” (subtitle: The Psychology of Human Relationships). Since its publication it has sold more than five million copies. A wonderful and fun read. One of the “Games” is called “Wooden Leg”. If you say with a non-judgmental tone, anything as mild as, “You’d feel better, Sis, if you’d lose a few pounds” and she says back, “Yes, but……” That is “Wooden Leg” and she is working you.
Excellent posts, all. (And, appreciate JP commentary!)
Several major issues in the obesity epidemic have been identified.
There is cultural acceptance of obesity (sounds like not because of its unattractiveness–but, there are trends attempting to blur the issue with FAT LIKE ME clubs, but there is the issue of inactivity and overeating processed foods where one cannot tell by appearance with increased of number of infections, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, heart failure, etc. as with Jim Fixx’ death) In our hurry-up world, many of us think it’s more efficient to avoid time to be physically active. Personally, I think there should be less dependence on personal cars, and availability of public gyms. The YWCA in my town has lost much funding and open hours limited, yet video stores at every corner; no city-wide natatorium.
There is the political atmosphere for reducing obesity. Remember when catsup was declared a vegetable for school meals subsidized by the government–sure there is something of value in tomato paste–no fiber content and unacceptably high levels of sugar. Recall hue and cry rang over the land when NYC led the nation in banning trans-fats? What about government subsidized farms for overfed beef, sugar-beet growers, and not a penny toward the tofu producers?–This last tofu comment I made up, because I don’t see it on school lunch menus, yet read in the local newspaper about lobbyists up in arms at the possibility that chocolate milk will no longer be served as part of the school lunch.
Quality fruits and vegetables are nutritious by themselves as well as situations in which healthful exercise can be incorporated. When I had a job in a decentralized hospital pharmacy I had a lot more opportunity for self-directed exercise than a centralized job where I sat in front of a computer entering orders for the majority of the night, and checking compounded drips in the downtime–we were so busy at night that there was hardly time to use the restroom once in 10 hours–fast food–that’s what it was.
Observations of fit & fat vs. unfit & fat addresses complex interplay of genetic metabolic and other pathophysiological predispositons, as well as eating food as a ‘calming’ emotional factor for many.
No punishment, just healthful alternatives? How can a pharmacist convey this message?
And that, Cathy Lane, is the question. What can we do? You, my dear, can do your personal best, like Peon and Jay Pee. But, the three of us are tired. We deserve the chance to sit and cheer for once. This is one of the all time great Cathy Lane posts. Incisive. A good eye, Cathy.
Great post, and comments, JP. Before my days as the “pharmacy slave”, I worked at a health club in membership sales and personal training. You would not believe the excuses people would give as reasons for not exercising, even for 30 mins. per day. Proper diet and exercise is a lifestyle. You can not half-ass it or you will see no benefits. That’s why it is so difficult to get people on board. We are an instant gratification society, everything we want or need can be had in seconds, except a physically fit body. It’s easy to gain weight but twice as hard to lose it. People will not work for it. Why? Because it is difficult and you do not get instant results. Our society has pushed pills for every conceivable issue. Depressed, fat, sore, stupid, take this pill. It’s easier. Obesity is the next gold-mine for pharmaceutical companies. As long as there is money to be made from treating a problem, there will be no reason to solve it.
Even worse is the “Obesity Action
Coalition”, comprised mainly of
bariatric surgeons and suppliers
of related products. The belief
that bariatric surgery will solve
all of your health problems is
misguided, especially when all
the bad habits that got you on the
operating table are resumed.
I know at least two people who
had Roux-en-y surgery, and they’re
fatter now than they were before.